About Us
Together we inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and business of tomorrow.
We are Wates, the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance company. Founded over 125 years ago, we know about the built environment. We partner with a wide range of public and private sector customers and partners to create the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow.
4,321
Employees (2023)
£2.18bn
Turnover (2023)
£225m
Social value generated (2023)
45%
Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions against a 2019 baseline
Creating tomorrow together
Now in our fourth generation of family ownership, we are committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment and to making our industry more inclusive and representative of the communities we work in.
Everything we do is guided by our purpose of working together to inspire better ways of creating the places, communities, and businesses of tomorrow.
Our goals are to be more sustainable, trusted and progressive, and our people are driven by our behaviours of ‘we care’, ‘we are fair’, and ‘we look for a better way’.
Long term financial resilience
As a multi generational, family-owned business we are not driven by short term shareholder demands, but by decisions which are in the long term interest of the business.
Our owners, the Wates Family, are committed to handing over to the next generation, an even stronger, more sustainable business. This approach drives all our investment decisions and allows us to achieve progressive earnings growth and to partner with customers to deliver products and services that offer the best value for money possible.
Health and safety
Our safety strategy: Zero Harm: We’re Safer Together, has produced better results every year since it was first introduced in 2016.
It is aimed at eliminating physical and psychological harm entirely from all our workplaces. In 2022, we led the industry across all key health and safety metrics, while continuing to search for new ways to make us even safer still.
Quality
We are committed to eliminating the practical and economic impacts of any quality failures from each of our businesses, while also achieving full compliance with all relevant regulatory and legislative standards.
Our commitment to quality across the industry was demonstrated through our role in helping draft the Government’s Construction Playbook best practice guide in 2022.
Inclusion and diversity
Our ambition is to have a more diverse workforce and to be recognised as a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion in our own business and in the wider industry.
We are developing a more inclusive culture by establishing clear, non-negotiable expectations about colleagues’ behaviour and language.
We have developed award-winning inclusivity programmes to help change our culture, and we are always looking to build on that work further.
Environment
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to becoming a net zero carbon company and we’re working to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 carbon and waste from our business operations.
We are also collaborating with customers and suppliers to achieve reductions in Scope 3 emissions in response to rapidly developing customer demands as the net zero agenda becomes ever more important.
Innovation
We have always looked for new and better ways of meeting our customers’ needs and we are committed to developing and embracing the best new ideas that generate value and help us to tackle shared challenges.
Whether we’re cutting operating costs with optimised construction or saving energy with Passivhaus technology, we can connect you with the right answers.
Latest career opportunities
Financial Systems Projects Manager
Location: Leatherhead
Job Type: Financial
Application Deadline: 16-05-2024
Are you a dynamic and experienced finance professional ready to take on a pivotal role? We are on the lookout for a Finance Systems Projects Manager to spearhead the implementation of innovative Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) software. Join us and become the driving force behind revolutionising our financial systems on an 18 – month contract.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: EPM Software Implementation: Lead the charge in implementing a new EPM system across Wates. Collaborate with finance colleagues to ensure seamless alignment with reporting requirements. Customisation and Configuration: Tailor the EPM software to meet our specific business needs. Optimise financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes. Finance SME for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Implementation: Dive into the heart of our finance systems. From understanding existing processes to guiding the selection and implementation of a new ERP, your expertise will be instrumental. Training and Support: Be the go-to expert for troubleshooting and support. Provide continuous assistance to users and drive improvements.You will be a strong communicator, you will consult with business units and stakeholders to explain the functionality of existing and new platforms effectively, and, while not solely responsible for budgets, you will play a vital role in providing business cases and ROI analysis for new projects.To succeed you will have a Deep understanding of financial systems implementation and technical accounting, with construction accounting knowledge being a bonus, coupled with proven experience in implementing financial systems, preferably EPM and ERP, with a knack for configuring modules and customising functionalities. You will also be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and be part of our team revolutionizing finance systems for a brighter future!WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & bonus Flexible working - this role will be based in the Leatherhead office two days a week. Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity. To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/
Multi Trade Operative (Damp & Mould)
Location: Derby
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 16-05-2024
Here at Wates, we have an opportunity for a Damp & Mould Specialist /Multi trade Operative to join our Living Space team in the Redditch area. As a Damp & Mould Operative you will be working on our responsive maintenance contracts for one of our existing social housing providers. The primary focus of this role will be to focus on damp & mould build-up within the properties and take the appropriate measures to ensure re-occurrent issues are avoided. Key Accountabilities will include: Undertaking repair/renewal works across several trades identifying the need for other trades to undertake the repair/renewal Advising Supervisor in a timely manner where other trades are required Working in partnership with other operatives to complete projects Completing daily work sheets detailing work undertaken and materials used after each job undertaken Working in a timely and productive manner to complete project Affording excellent customer service to client representatives At all times, work to Wates Health & Safety Professional Standards, including commitment to and understanding of the company’s safeguarding policy towards children and vulnerable adults We are looking for a qualified Damp & Mould Operative who has experience gained from working in a similar industry and environment providing them with the skills to fulfil the above role requirements. To be successful in the role you will be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multitask and work to tight deadlines.
Senior Land & Planning Manager
Location: Leatherhead
Job Type: Land Management / Acquisition
Application Deadline: 16-05-2024
Wates Developments holds a large and growing portfolio of potential residential development land and our Projects team focuses on securing valuable planning consents in sustainable locations, throughout Southern England. We currently have an exciting opportunity for a new Senior Land & Planning Manager to join our Wates Developments team in Leatherhead, working within the Projects team to secure planning consents on our ever-growing land portfolio.As our Senior Land & Planning Manager you will: Implement strategies to safeguard the interests of the company & ensure deliverability of planning consents with the aim of maximising returns on capital & profitability. Promote land for allocation or consent adding value to the companies’ existing land/property portfolio. Prepare, submit reports, forecasting & updated valuations of the portfolio to support the growth of the business. Identify opportunities to advance planning strategies or maximise return on sites wherever possible Liaise with key stakeholders, landowners & agents whilst upholding the Wates Guiding Framework values to promote trust & build relations to deliver planning consents.We are looking for an experienced land and development professional with experience in; the UK planning system, legal land contracts, development solutions, appraisals, land transactions and politics. This individual must understand how to act within parameters of legal terms and have detailed experience in land management and the valuation of residential land whilst maintaining budgets for promotion and planning applications.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity.To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/
Design Manager
Location: Thetford
Job Type: Design
Application Deadline: 15-05-2024
Wates Construction are looking for a Design Manager to join our Northern Home Counties Region focussing on high profile, technically complex projects across multiple sectors. If you are passionate about design, working within a team environment and with proven technical skills looking for an opportunity to challenge the norm, bring fresh new ideas and elevate yourself within the industry then join us and help to create tomorrow together. This is a great opportunity to progress your career as part of a talented, diverse, and supportive team. ABOUT THE ROLE Our Design Managers are a valuable part of our business, driving quality outcomes, enhancing buildability and fostering innovation. Design Managers work collaboratively with our industry specialists and in-house technical experts to ensure that the design develops in accordance with the brief with a firm focus on added value, compliance, commercial viability, and best practice. As our Design Manager you will: Work with all relevant parties, to produce and manage a realistic design programme and information required schedule to facilitate design, procurement and construction activities Support the implementation of Continuous Improvement initiatives and innovation Ensure the design has been reviewed and verified to achieve compliance and mitigate Health and Safety, design and buildability issues prior to construction and identify key risks and opportunities at each stage of the design and delivery process. WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade) Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity. To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/
Get in touch
To get in touch with us, simply fill in the form below and we’ll get right back to you.